[m.137]

I have been doing some research and I have yet to find this answer. What do you do to the existing car's electrical system? I am converting a car that was flooded out so I want to just chuck the whole thing and start over with a painless system http://www.painlesswiring.com/webcatalog/index.php Does everyone else just dissect the system and remove everything ICE related? I am trying to figure out what to remove because the whole thing is integrated together. I know the ECU should go, but in most cars is that tied into the other systems? Really the car only needs to be able to do the lights, power doors/locks, HVAC, turn signals, wipers, radio, cigarette lighter (although i want to put in an inverter and 110 plugs). On an 1980s era car would the sensors like door ajar and brake on be their own independent circuits or does that logic end up being integrated into the ecu or something?

[glaurung]

Hi m.137
In old car you can junk old wires, if you know how to wire basic components.
In new cars with airbags and other safety features you have to be more experienced.Many safety items can be required in inspection to be road legal.
If you make your own or use aftermarket wires be sure to make good wiring diaghram for later repairs. Very important.
Regards, Harri

[TheSGC]

It really depends on your state's inspection process. In MA, any vehicle that originally came with an ODBII or CAN system must always have it intact. Those systems are usually integrated into the ECU and PCM, among other systems.

I left my ECU installed for the ODBII system and the PCM for my automatic transmission.

If your car is old enough that it didn't come with those systems, then I don't see why you can't go ahead and redo all the wiring to your satisfaction. I would suggest getting the detailed service manual for your car and take a good look at the Electrical section before you get to hacking away the old stuff.

[Woodsmith]

This is one of the isues that made be wish I had used an MGB rather then an MR2 as a donor.

The MGB has simple wiring and four 35A fuses. I could make up a new loom and rewire the car within a day and know it would work.
The MR2 has many dozens of fuses and black box 'amplifiers', electrically controlled everything and enough copper cable to affect the stock market price!

I have kept everything from the original wiring including the sensors from the ICE loom just in case the car isn't happy with any part of it missing.

[dtbaker]

Originally Posted by m.137

What do you do to the existing car's electrical system?

I left everything in.... chopped the umbilical cord to the engine and wrapped it up with electrical tape to prevent shorts. removed ignition coil, and used the switched 12v lead for my main contactor. ran 12v output from dc-dc convertor to main fuse block where the ICE battery was connected.

[gdirwin]

What make/model/year of car are you converting? Some are easier than others...

[m.137]

A 1981 Delorean. I am liking this one http://www.centechwire.com/catalog/wiring/index.html

I am documenting the restoration/conversion at http://thissuckeriselectrical.blogspot.com/

the electrical system has 3 things wrong with it

1.)29 years old
2.)It was flooded out
3.)It was designed by lucas (British company known for horrible wiring)

[Woodsmith]

I suppose someone has to ask....

Are you having one of these?



I suppose a Delorean allows you to have some odd ball electrical bits inside and it would be cool gliding along with only EV noises.

A Soliton1 controller would look good in that spot all lit up.

As to the wiring, Are there any components that you have to keep to keep the car functional? If not then I would be tempted to start from scratch and make or buy a simple loom. Most of the dash will probably be reworked to display your pack and controller information anyway.

[m.137]

Thats my thoughts on it. The car doesn't have airbags or power steering. The Centech kit I linked is good for fiberglass bodies. The only thing I can think of is the wires that go to the power windows and locks might need to be spliced to be a little longer.

I have been looking at solution 1.

Oh, and for the flux capacitor (A must) I want to have a capacitor bank built into the back. Once I read that people called the capacitor banks as "flux capacitors" I knew I needed to have a a "real" one.